Spurs Select F Jeremy Sochan with the 9th Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

[LeBowen]

Sochan has more off-ball gravity than most of you think.

You got to be trolling.
How can a player who's being dared to shoot every time he gets the ball have gravity?
He only has gravity when he gets the ball near the paint with a small guard on him. In every other situation, the opposing teams wants him to be the guy shooting or even driving.
What he needs to improve on is taking better advantage of those situations when he's effectively left alone.

The true negative offense guys are those who are stationary shooters who can't attack closeouts.

And we got none of those on roster as of now.
Just because not being able to put it down on the floor is a flaw, it doesn't mean not being able to shoot isn't an even bigger flaw.
Can't attack a closeout if there's no closeout to be attacked.

[Pauleta14]

If he could be a 3 and D lockdown defender like Bruce Bowen it would be great. That’s all I’m asking right now. Sure Pop will have him push the ball some, be a connector like everyone. I’m curious what the starting line up will be. I think Barnes play the 4, while Sochan the 3. But I really want our #4 pick play the starting 3 from the get go and have a chance at ROY. I know Castle will share PG duties when CP(?) sits. I suspect eventually Castle starts at PG when CP(?) leaves. I’m hoping Sochan eventually plays the lockdown Bruce Bowen role (although Pop tried to develop him like Bobo’s handles and passing). While PATFO searches the future long term PF player (most of us hoping it was Markkanen).

I could see him becoming a lot more in many aspects with his defensive versatility and grit offensive rebounding but I don't see him ever becoming as reliable as Bruce in 3pts efficiency

[KingKev]

I could see him becoming a lot more in many aspects with his defensive versatility and grit offensive rebounding but I don't see him ever becoming as reliable as Bruce in 3pts efficiency

He is leaps and bounds from ever touching Bruce Bowen’s defensive prowess but i’ll take league average on decent volume (say 4-5 attempts a game) plus a switchable/versatile net positive on the defensive end happily. He is far from either of those at this point.

[Pauleta14]

I agree that he needs to improve in those areas. But I feel he went on to get better in those areas as the season went by, last year. But his shooting was still hideous. And the hitch he displayed while playing for Poland was awful. So, I am hoping that the new video showing his hitch to be gone, is something to look forward to. And if he can be a passable shooter, then his improving defense, decent playmaking and rebounding could make him a useful starter and not a liability.

I don't trust any summer videos tbh

But I trust the impact of his international bb experience (even short), the impact of time (at this age you can take leaps) and more than anything I trust the impact of his "last chance to prove" season, before signing an (eventual) extention.

He's shown what he's capable of, that's why he has so many (often delusianal imo) fans, he needs to sustain the good things he does more often and gradualy improve on the other areas.

I don't think we should be obsessed with his 3pts %, it'll probably never be reliable, it just needs to not suck and be decent when open, it'll come with the work ethic he seems to have.

If he wants his extention and be a core of the team, he needs to improve his fundamentals, bbIQ, passing, cuting, awareness, reaction time etc

[Pauleta14]

He is leaps and bounds from ever touching Bruce Bowen’s defensive prowess but i’ll take league average on decent volume (say 4-5 attempts a game) plus a switchable/versatile net positive on the defensive end happily. He is far from either of those at this point.

Is it tougher to make a good offensive player an elite defenive one?

Or a good defenvive player an elite offensive one?

Bruce Bowen, even if it was in France, was a gunner, he had more than decent offensive skills, just not enough atheticism to find a offensive role in NBA, so he converted himself into a defensive specialist.

That's why I'm not a big fan of this comp. They don't have much in common really.

[BatManu20]

Yea Sochan will never sniff Bowen's defensive abilities tbh. He's not nearly as twitchy as Bruce was, nor does he have the defensive tenacity and instincts that Brucey had. But he can still be a versatile, switchable defender on that end, especially with Wemby playing behind him, and that's fine. Jeremy really just needs to lock in and work his way into becoming league-average 3-point shooter and the rest will fall into place tbh.

[C-Dub]

I really liked Bruce Bowen, but Bruce Bowen wasn't Bruce Bowen at 19/20 years old. Give Sochan The Destroyer a few more years than let's revist.

[baseline bum]

The hitch in sochan's shooting motion seems to be gone but it is still a relatively slow release. I expect a better 3p % this year. 33%? On middling attempts?

I wouldn't put any stock whatsoever in offseason workout videos. Ben Simmons releases them every summer making him look like Steph bombing threes.

[exstatic]

I wouldn't put any stock whatsoever in offseason workout videos. Ben Simmons releases them every summer making him look like Steph bombing threes.

I would gauge that as the exception, not the rule. In 6 seasons, Ben has made 5 three pointers. In 2 seasons Jeremy has made 103. The comparison of offseason video is ridiculous on the face of it. One player isn’t a great shooter, but shoots them and is working to improve. The other refuses to shoot them.

[Pauleta14]

I really liked Bruce Bowen, but Bruce Bowen wasn't Bruce Bowen at 19/20 years old. Give Sochan The Destroyer a few more years than let's revist.

Bruce Bowen wasn't a lottery pick and had to go abroad to make a living in some tiny towns in Europe and fight his way up.

Sochan, like to many was drafted on potential more than merit and had it way too easy up until now. It does impact young men, especially those not naturally gifted who just won the jackpot thx to cir stances (poor draft class and gamble by PATFO)

Again it's a lot more than just the 3pts %, it's the overall game/fundamentals and BBIQ

[ace3g]

He might have been in a car accident.

[buttsR4rebounding]

Yea Sochan will never sniff Bowen's defensive abilities tbh. He's not nearly as twitchy as Bruce was, nor does he have the defensive tenacity and instincts that Brucey had. But he can still be a versatile, switchable defender on that end, especially with Wemby playing behind him, and that's fine. Jeremy really just needs to lock in and work his way into becoming league-average 3-point shooter and the rest will fall into place tbh.

Bowen's defensive instincts came from hours and hours of film study. Bowen put in more time studying the tendencies of opponents than anyone else on the team and probably the league. Also, Bowen's physical style would get him fouled out in the first quarter of today's NBA. So no one can ever sniff the defensive abilities of Bruce with the current rule structure of the NBA. Although I do agree Sochan is nowhere close to being a perennial first-team All-Defensive Team player that Bowen was.

[rankingtear]

You got to be trolling.
How can a player who's being dared to shoot every time he gets the ball have gravity?
He only has gravity when he gets the ball near the paint with a small guard on him. In every other situation, the opposing teams wants him to be the guy shooting or even driving.
What he needs to improve on is taking better advantage of those situations when he's effectively left alone.



And we got none of those on roster as of now.
Just because not being able to put it down on the floor is a flaw, it doesn't mean not being able to shoot isn't an even bigger flaw.
Can't attack a closeout if there's no closeout to be attacked.

His FG% on drives is awful but he has about the same assist% to Tre on similar volume and pass%. Also his paint touch FG% is about the same as Vic and Zollins. Sochan is rated above 3 and D guys like Jabari Smith Jr. and PJ Washington on off ball gravity according to Bball-Index.

[Ice009]

Is it tougher to make a good offensive player an elite defenive one?

Or a good defenvive player an elite offensive one?

Bruce Bowen, even if it was in France, was a gunner, he had more than decent offensive skills, just not enough atheticism to be find a offensive role in NBA, so we converted hiself into a defensive specialist.

That's why I'm not a big fan of this comp. They don't have much in common really.

I remember TP saying that Bruce was great when he saw him when he was younger. But I also recall/thought TP said Bruce also had great athleticism too, so I'm not sure if you're correct on that. Maybe Bruce lost half that athleticism by the time he reached the NBA?

[John B]

I remember TP saying that Bruce was great when he saw him when he was younger. But I also recall/thought TP said Bruce also had great athleticism too, so I'm not sure if you're correct on that. Maybe Bruce lost half that athleticism by the time he reached the NBA?

Don’t get me wrong. I love Bruce. But you can count how many times Bruce took it to the rim. I don’t know whose handles were worst, Bruce or Danny Green.

[Pauleta14]

I remember TP saying that Bruce was great when he saw him when he was younger. But I also recall/thought TP said Bruce also had great athleticism too, so I'm not sure if you're correct on that. Maybe Bruce lost half that athleticism by the time he reached the NBA?

He had, especially compared to euro players, but not compared to NBA standards to become a starter/go to guy, you need something special for that, atheltically of skills wise

Bruce was good everywhere but elite nowhere when he arrived, except his IQ that lead him to do what it takes to have an NBA career

[exstatic]

I remember TP saying that Bruce was great when he saw him when he was younger. But I also recall/thought TP said Bruce also had great athleticism too, so I'm not sure if you're correct on that. Maybe Bruce lost half that athleticism by the time he reached the NBA?

He was 30 when he signed with the Spurs,so he was definitely past his athletic prime.

[heyheymymy]

He's calling State Farm now that CP4 is on the Spurs

[KobesAchilles]

Maybe the accident will magically fix his broken ass shot

[Ignazzz]

Sick people

[tim_duncan_fan]

Crashing Porsches and whatnot?

This team really does have some young players.

[cutewizard]

[SpursBills]

Early returns look good this season, although I'll have to admit that he definitely took his development in a different direction than I was expecting. Last year at this time I was anticipating more "wing skill" development for this season - improved ball handling, playmaking, shooting, etc whereas he's definitely leaned more into "forward skill" development - interior finishing, rebounding, energy. Definitely more Aaron Gordon lite than Scottie Barnes lite. Not necessarily a bad thing with Castle being here, and his upcoming extension will be interesting to keep an eye on.

Numbers wise:
All things outside shooting are down
Rebounding / 2P efficiency up

Season EPM is up to +1.4 (-0.2 off/+1.6 def), 3rd on the team behind Wemby and CP3, good for 81st percentile, BPM and VORP positive for the first time in his career
Compare him to age 21 Tari Eason and he compares relatively favorably; he's not the defensive event generator and his outside shooting is more broken, but he's a better passer which gives him more potential as a connector rather than pure play finisher

As to the extension, I think he's complete lack of outside shooting may limit his value league wide; Gordon's getting 33 million a year as the apex version of this type of player who can hit some 3s and has elite strength and athleticism. Sochan's probably outplayed the Obi Toppin extension at this point given his year two jump, but if the spurs can lock him down for 20-25 a year I'd consider that a win so long as his performance for the rest of the season holds up.

[Raven]

played pg on the late rally against the blazers, played center in another game, and is the main perimeter defender on the team. Not bad, but his shooting is hurt everytime he gets injured, and it takes him a while before he gets his confidence back. Still, he's one of the 3 main players on this team.

[Dejounte]

If it werent for Castle, Sochan would be my number 1 fave on the team.